14 Comments
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Dennis Etzel Jr (he/they)'s avatar

This is so amazing to read. Yes, we need to speak about resilience and find practical ways to get through, but I'm so glad you include the flip side: "Failure is not fun. And even if you’re used to it, the numbness of perseverance is not real. Unless you’re heavily medicated, it hurts." Yes! Thank you for your writing!

Jen Knox's avatar

Thanks for the kind words. It is true. We can get all philosophical about it, but ouch!! :)

Anna Svoboda's avatar

This is so fantastic. I think of all the doors I never would have peeked through or forced open if not for the "failures" before. And love your quote about true art being imperfect. The flaws are what separate the humans from the machines (among many other things).

Jen Knox's avatar

Perfectly said! Vulnerability is the human superpower and what helps us to connect. Though I will admit, I still find it mighty hard at times. Thanks for reading, Anna.

Bea Darling's avatar

I loved this so much. As someone who really struggles with failure, and the fear of it, you brought a subtle radiance to it for me. I almost wanted to reach out and touch it! And thank you for sharing the 9 dot problem. I couldn’t get below 5 and then I saw that you can even do it in ‘one’ and I had a huge smile on my face!

Jen Knox's avatar

I love that little riddle too. I'm not sure, but it might have been the origin of the phrase thinking outside the box (I suppose I'll go google that now). Thank you so much for reading and sharing, Bea, Cheers to failing beautifully!

Dr. Bronce Rice's avatar

I mean how else are we going to learn how to grow, adapt, and mature over time. To figure out how to love the process of getting from point A to point B where maybe we've figure out more of the process and not the exact answer.

And you got to help design a univesity course on resilience! How cool is that! :)

Jen Knox's avatar

Hoping I'll be one of its teachers when it launches, too. We shall see... :)

Dr. Bronce Rice's avatar

That would be cool right! :)

Sara Castaneda's avatar

I love this post. Failure is usually something we try to ignore, be consumed by, or blame others on. When I was an actress, auditions every day in NYC was constant failure. But when I got a part, it was such a hard won victory. The same with writing. Acting prepared me well. I framed one of my funnier weird rejection letters for one of my poems. For some reason, it makes me laugh. And reminds me, it's part of it. I have also framed some of my favorite publications. Those make me smile. Perspective.

Jen Knox's avatar

I love that you framed the rejection as well as the publications. We have to honor it all to keep going.

Stacy Bronec's avatar

"Fail well." I like that thought! Good luck with the move!

Jen Knox's avatar

Thank you! I will need the luck. :)

Sudeepta Sanyal's avatar

Loved the read! As a society failure is seen as something bad. But it means that we are trying! Ofcourse it sucks to fail at something one had worked on. And some days it’s a rant . But on a larger scheme of things it’s not that bad🌸